UT lands elite basketball recruit

AUSTIN — Last season, Texas proved it was on its way to being a national power on the basketball court again. Wednesday, the Longhorns showed they’re back to being a formidable recruiting force, too.

Euless Trinity center Myles Turner, the nation’s consensus No. 2 recruit, will attend UT next season, he announced at a press conference at his high school. Turner is the Longhorns’ top-rated recruit since Avery Bradley in 2009, and their first McDonald’s All-American since Cameron Ridley three years ago.

Asked during ESPNU’s coverage of his announcement why he chose UT, Turner said “staying in state means a lot.” He also said he was impressed with UT’s attitude under coach Rick Barnes.

“They’re a real blue-collar program,” Turner said. “The only reason I’m here is through hard wor, and I felt like that’s what Texas is about.

Texas already was set to return its entire roster from last season, when the Longhorns finished 24-11 and made it to the NCAA tournament’s round of 32. UT’s frontcourt is particularly loaded, with Johnathan Holmes, Ridley, Connor Lammert and Prince Ibeh all coming back.